There was also a Nun, a PRIORESS, That of her smiling was full simple and coy; Her greatest oath was but by Saint Loy; And she was cleped[53] Madame Eglentine. Full well she sang the service divine, Entuned[54] in her nose full seemely; And French she spake full fair and fetisly[55] After the school of Stratford-at-the-Bow, For French of Paris was to her unknowe. At meate well ytaught was she withal; She let no morsel from her lippes fall, Ne wet her fingers in her sauce deep. Well could she carry a morsel, and well keep, That no drope ne fell upon her breast. In courtesy was set full much her lest.[56] Her over-lippe wiped she so clean, That in her cup there was no farthing[57] seen Of grease, when she drunken had her draught; Full seemely after her meat she raught[58]: And sickerly[59] she was of great disport, And full pleasant and amiable of port, And pained[60] her to counterfeiten[61] cheer Of court, and to be stately of manere, And to be holden digne[62] of reverence. But for to speaken of her conscience,[63] She was so charitable and so pitous, She woulde weep if that she saw a mouse Caught in a trap, if it were dead or bled; Of smalle houndes had she, that she fed With roasted flesh, or milk and wastel-bread[64]; But sore wept sh' if one of hem were dead,[65] Or if men[66] smote it with a yarde[67] smarte[68]: And all was conscience and tender heart. Full seemely her wimple[69] pinched[70] was; Her nose tretys, her eyen gray as glass, Her mouth full small and thereto soft and red; But sickerly[71] she had a fair forehead; It was almost a spanne broad, I trow; For hardily[72] she was not undergrowe.[73] Full fetis[74] was her cloak, as I was ware. Of small coral about her arm she bare A pair[75] of beades gauded all with green[76]; And thereon hung a brooch of gold full sheen, On which ther was first writ a crowned A, And after, _Amor vincit omnia_. Another Nunne with her hadde she, That was her chapelain,[77] and Priestes three. THE FRIAR